National Republican., 1887-01-22
EARLY HISTORY OF THE U. $.
Congress Urged TO Buy Valuable De-
scriptivc Catalogue OF Papers Found
in European Archives.

Congress Urged to Buy Valuable De-
scriptive Catalogue OF Papers Found
in European Archives.
Senator Sherman, president pro tenn, laid
before the Senate letter from the Secre-
tary OF State transmitting copies Of a me-
mortal signed by representatives OF several
historical societies and 10y many OF the
eminent men Of letters Of the United States,
and especially by those engaged In hIstori-
cal pursuits. setting forth the great value
and Importance of full and accurate
digest and catalogue of thenumerous docu-
ments found In public and private archives
OF Europe relating to the early history OF
the United States, and especially the period
between the treaty of Paris in 1868, by
which Great Britain acquired from France
title to the northwestern territories Of
America, and the treaty Of eace between
the United States and Great Britain In 1888
The Secretary SAYS.
The memoriallsts represent that such docu-
ments exist In great numbers in the various
European archives; that the condition under
which they are accessible--eyen when upon TO
public tnspection-are such that but few have
been copied, and most of them are unknown
TO the American student: that Mr.. Benjamin
FRANKLIN Stevens, native citizen OF the
United States, residing in London, has during
several years of careful research and under
exceptional advantages, prepared descrip.
tive catalogue of over 5000 separate papers
found IN the archives OF different European
list shows the value OF the substantially COM
pete list which they ask Congress to authorize
and provide the means for.
A letter from Mr.. Stevens setting forth
in detail the nature OF the work he has un-
dertaken and the conditions essential to
Its accomplishment Is submitted, and the
Secretary continues:
., The weight Of testimony as to the value of
the proposed index and catalogue suggested
10y the names attached to the memorial, iusti-
hes me In commencing the subject to the care
able action, not only will the completion of
the work be doubtful, If not impossible. but
the fragment now prepared would probably
remain practically valueess.
Propositions have from time to time been
made TO Congress by persons eminent In his
tory and literature, together with the recon-
osRna ~ ,6o z, Gi my
records in foreign archives relating to the
early history of the United States, and their
deposit In the national capital for free consul.
now proposed would unquestionally be of ad-
vantage In suggesting the proper selection of
historical matter for transcription and indi-
eating where 1t Is TO be found.
The memorials accompanying the Secre.
tary's letter are signed by host of promi-
nSne hOht oIhohE NhOni uie DeuJuiilu H.
Field, president New York Historical So
ciety; Francis Parkman, Robert G. Win
throp, and VIM. w. Greenough, of Boston;
George Il. Ellis, president Massachusetts
Historical Society; A. @. Goodell, IT,, presi-
dent New England Historical Genealogical
Society; James w. Bradbury, president
Maine Historical Society; G. X. Adams,
president Cornell University; James B. An
CELL, president University of Michigau; w.
b. Anderson, president Rochester Univer-
sity; Timothy Dwight, president Yale
bart%o"lh College,; Dis'''f F. P!'''fS&s =. Bars
nard, president Columbia College;
Charles 2. DAILY, president New York Geo
graphical Society; George w. Childs, OF the
Philadelphia Ledger; Edward Eggleston and
II. w. Glider, Of the Century; Viii telaw
Reid, New York Tribune; Allen Thorndyke
Rice, North american Rerie,U; Henry G..
Marguand, E. c. Steadman, Manton Mar.
BILE, John Bigelow, Joseph X. Choate, and
George Vim. Curtis, of New York; Poult.
ney Bigelow, editor OF Outingg: Henry
Ward Beecher, Wayne MacVeagh, and s.
A. Allibone, Of the Lenox Library.
Mr.. Stevens In letter to the Secretary,
which accompanies the message to the
president pro ten., says that he has dis
covered many valuable historical works,
that the work has become too great for any
individual to undertake alone unless man
of wealth, and that when complete the in
dex will probably comprise 10000 docu.
ments and when printed fill 10000 royal
octave pages.